Muhammad NaeemGlobal PC shipments fell by about 20% in the third quarter of 2026, and the reason matters for anyone planning to buy a laptop in Pakistan. Memory chips are in short supply because AI data centres are buying them up, and that is pushing up the cost of building every laptop. The short version for Pakistani buyers: laptop prices in Pakistan are unlikely to drop soon, and waiting for a big price cut could leave you paying more, not less.
This post explains what the new shipment numbers actually say, why memory prices are the cause, and what it means for prices in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad right now. All figures come from the research firms and retailers named at the end, and Pakistan prices are October 2026 retailer listings, not official brand prices.
PC shipments fell 20% in Q3 2026: the numbers
Three research firms reported the same story in October 2026, with slightly different totals because they measure the market in different ways:
| Research firm | Q3 2026 shipments | Change vs last year |
| IDC | 62.7 million units | Down 20.1% |
| Omdia | 58.1 million units | Down 21.2% |
| Gartner | Not stated in the report summary | Down 22.4% |
The drop is unusual for a third quarter. Normally Q3 beats Q2 because schools, companies and shoppers buy before the holiday season. This year shipments also fell 9.1% compared with Q2, breaking that normal pattern. IDC now expects total PC shipments to fall 11.3% across all of 2026.
Every major vendor shipped fewer machines than a year ago:
| Vendor | Q3 2026 shipments | Change vs last year |
| Lenovo | 14.9 million | Down 22.6% |
| HP | 10.3 million | Down 30.9% |
| Dell | 7.6 million | Down 25% |
| Apple | 5.9 million | Down 11.3% |
| Asus | 5.5 million | Down 8.6% |
Lenovo stayed the largest vendor with a 23.8% share. HP had the steepest fall of any major vendor, down 30.9%. Apple fell the least in share terms and its market share actually rose to 9.5%, because the overall market shrank faster than Apple did.
Why shipments fell: memory prices, not weak demand alone
The main cause sits one layer below the laptop itself. DRAM and NAND memory chips that used to go into laptops and desktops are now being redirected toward AI data centres, which need high-bandwidth memory for GPU clusters and dense server memory. Those parts earn chipmakers far more money than the memory inside a consumer laptop, so when supply is tight, consumer PCs lose out.
Omdia estimates that memory’s share of total PC component cost has jumped from around 15% to nearly 40%. Gartner estimated earlier in 2026 that memory prices could rise about 130% by the end of the year, adding roughly 17% to PC prices. Some reports put high-end 128GB DDR5 memory kits at prices as high as $3,399. That is why the pain is worst on machines with lots of RAM, and why budget laptops, where memory is a bigger share of the price, are squeezed hardest.
A second factor made Q3 look even worse. Earlier in 2026, vendors, distributors and corporate buyers rushed to buy PCs and components ahead of expected price rises. That pulled sales forward into the first half of the year and left the third quarter with fewer real buyers. IDC research director Jitesh Ubrani summed it up: vendors and channels loaded up on inventory early in the year to get ahead of price hikes, and that threw off the usual seasonality where Q3 is typically larger than Q2.
Photo: backlit laptop keyboard (Colin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).
What this means for laptop prices in Pakistan
Pakistan imports nearly all its laptops, so global cost rises reach local shops with a lag, through the dollar rate and fresh stock. October 2026 listings at Paklap, one of Pakistan’s large laptop retailers, show where prices stand right now:
| Segment | Starting price at Paklap, October 2026 |
| Brand-new mainstream laptops | From about Rs 100,000 to Rs 110,000 |
| 13th generation laptops | From Rs 105,000 |
| 14th generation laptops | From about Rs 181,000 |
| 15th generation AI laptops | From Rs 177,000 (HP 14 AI) to Rs 255,000 and up |
Some current examples from the same listings: the HP 15 FD2043NIA AI at Rs 215,000, the HP OmniBook 3 16 at Rs 185,000, and the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 at Rs 275,000. These are retailer listings checked in October 2026, and they move with the dollar and stock, so confirm before buying.
Two honest implications follow. First, if you need a laptop now for study or work, waiting for a price drop is a weak bet. Neither IDC nor Omdia points to near-term relief in memory pricing, because the AI data centre demand driving it shows no sign of easing before 2027. Second, the value is shifting toward previous-generation and refurbished machines. A last-generation laptop often costs far less than the newest model while handling everyday tasks just as well.
Our best laptops under Rs 200,000 in Pakistan and best laptops under Rs 100,000 in Pakistan guides cover the budget end, and the 12th generation laptop price in Pakistan page shows how much cheaper an older generation can be. If your budget is tight, the best laptops under Rs 50,000 in Pakistan page focuses on used and refurbished options.
How to buy smart while prices are rising
Start with the machine you actually need. For study, office work and online classes, a recent mid-range processor with 8GB of RAM and an SSD feels fast and is enough. Creators and engineers should prioritise more RAM, a dedicated graphics card and a good screen, but those are exactly the specs facing the biggest price pressure, so be ready to pay more or to accept a previous-generation model.
Check the warranty before the price. Official distributor-warranty units cost slightly more than grey imports in Pakistan. That extra cost buys you a real claim if the machine fails. Ask the seller, in writing, whether the unit carries official distributor warranty or seller warranty, and for how long.
Consider refurbished business laptops. Intag, a Pakistani refurbished seller, lists used HP EliteBook 840 G5/G6 units at Rs 55,000 to Rs 65,000, used Dell Latitude 7490 units at Rs 55,000 to Rs 75,000, and refurbished HP EliteBook 840 G10 units at Rs 110,000 to Rs 150,000, each graded, serviced and carrying a one-year Intag warranty. A refurbished business machine often has a better keyboard, screen and build than a new budget laptop at the same price.
Finally, compare the same model across two or three sellers. Prices for the same laptop can differ by Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 between stores in Pakistan, and installment plans over 6 to 12 months can make a higher-end laptop affordable without waiting. Seasonal sales around Black Friday and 11.11 on Daraz can still help, but with memory costs rising, do not count on a deep discount this year.
Where this news comes from
Shipment figures: IDC Q3 2026 estimates (62.7 million units, down 20.1% year over year, down 9.1% from Q2) as reported by The Register, with Omdia (58.1 million, down 21.2%) and Gartner (down 22.4%) figures from the same coverage. Vendor breakdowns and the memory cost share estimate (15% to nearly 40%) come from IDC and Omdia reporting. The Gartner memory price estimate (about 130% rise by end of 2026, adding roughly 17% to PC prices) is from Gartner coverage. Pakistan prices: Paklap 15th generation listings and Paklap laptop price list, October 2026; refurbished prices from Intag discounted laptops; budget price bands from UrduPro laptop prices in Pakistan. Featured photo: Lenovo Yoga 530 (VulcanSphere, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0). All figures are snapshots from October 2026, not forecasts, and retailer prices change with the dollar and stock.
- Buying now locks in today’s price before memory-driven increases reach more models in Pakistan.
- Previous-generation laptops are still in stock at lower prices, and they handle study, office work and everyday use well.
- Refurbished business laptops from known sellers give strong value, with graded units and a one-year seller warranty in some cases.
- Shops in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad offer cash on delivery, and many offer installment plans that spread the cost over months.
- New AI laptops with dedicated NPUs are now on shelves in Pakistan for buyers who want a machine that stays useful longer.
- Prices are more likely to rise than fall in the next few months, so waiting for a big sale may not pay off.
- Budget models suffer most from memory price rises, since memory is a bigger share of their total cost.
- Grey import units can look cheaper but may lack official distributor warranty, so the saving can backfire.
- High-end models with 32GB or more RAM face the steepest increases, because large memory kits have risen fastest.
- Retailer listings change fast with the dollar and stock, so any price quoted today needs confirming before you pay.
FAQs
Why did PC shipments fall 20% in Q3 2026?
Two forces combined. AI data centres are buying up DRAM and NAND memory, pushing memory prices sharply higher and raising PC costs. At the same time, buyers had already rushed to purchase earlier in 2026 ahead of expected price rises, leaving fewer buyers in Q3.
Will laptop prices in Pakistan drop soon?
Probably not in the next few months. Research firms point to no near-term relief in memory pricing, and memory is now a much bigger share of a laptop’s cost. If you need a laptop, buying now or choosing a previous-generation or refurbished model is usually the smarter move.
Which laptop brands fell most in Q3 2026?
HP fell most among major vendors, down 30.9% to 10.3 million units. Dell fell 25%, Lenovo fell 22.6% but stayed the largest vendor, Apple fell 11.3% and Asus fell 8.6%, the smallest decline of the top five.
What is the cheapest new laptop in Pakistan right now?
Brand-new mainstream laptops start from about Rs 100,000 to Rs 110,000 in October 2026 retailer listings, with 13th generation models from Rs 105,000. Refurbished business laptops start much lower, from around Rs 32,000 to Rs 55,000 depending on grade and seller.
Should I buy a previous-generation laptop to save money?
Yes, for most study and office use. A previous-generation model often costs 15% to 25% less than the newest equivalent while handling everyday tasks well. Check that it has at least 8GB of RAM and an SSD, and confirm the warranty type before paying.
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